At X-Mas at the Grog, with the New Loud and This Moment in Black History. Saturday, December 25, at the Grog Shop.

It's another X-Mas at the Grog, and the men of Roué have two Christmas wishes: "We want a van," says singer-guitarist Justin Coulter. "And we want to get our record done. We've been working on it since July, and we just want to get it finished." The record in question is slated for a January 21 release, and though the mastering process is done, it's still untitled.

"We pretty much took the beginning ideas and pushed them further," says Coulter. "We try to keep every song different." Roué re-recorded four of its debut EP's six songs, minus the spine-tingling opener "Ground From Here." "Everyone likes that one," says Coulter, "but it's one of the first songs we wrote, and it just didn't match the new songs." The LP will also be the recording debut of drummer Steve Mehlman, skinsman of Pere Ubu and Rocket From the Tombs, who connected with the band through its Exit Stencil labelmates This Moment in Black History.

Coulter says that Roué doesn't plan to apply its jarring jangle to any Christmas jingles, but the show will still capture the season spirit. "It's the holidays, and people are happy. Plus, it's Christmas night, and they're done with their family, so they're definitely ready to have a good time." Now if only the Grinch would please steal the instruments of all emo bands, the world will be ready for music with some real emotional impact.